The digital camera market never lacks good and affordable cameras like Panasonic Lumix LX10 Vs ZS100. These pocket cameras are ideal for enthusiasts who want to manage their budget and still want to look casual. While not going to beat your expensive DSLR/mirrorless camera, both offer much better portability and convenience, making them excellent choices for various users.
In this comparison, we will talk about the following:
- How to Choose a Digital Camera
- What are Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100
- How is the Design of the Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100
- How are the Camera Specs of Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100
- How is the Image Quality of Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100
- How is the Performance of Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100
- Panasonic Lumix LX10 Vs ZS100
Buying a Digital Camera
Digital cameras are not as trendy as they used to be in the late 90s and early 2000s. But it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with the camera anymore. With smartphones improving and planting highly advanced cameras and processing in their system, many people still choose the digital camera as a hobby. However, it is best to find a camera that can take better pictures than your smartphone. You also want to consider ergonomics because handling is crucial for comfort and ensuring you can take a good shot while operating the device.
About Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100
While most camera companies focus on their professional range, you can still find many good consumer-level models. Brands like Nikon, Sony, and Panasonic are some of the best choices for finding your next camera. Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 are perfect choices for hobbyists who want to jump from a cheap pocket camera or smartphone to something more capable. Both cameras have optical zoom, similar to the Kodak Pixpro AZ421 Vs Nikon Coolpix B500. The zoom lens is ideal for travelers and casual photographers.
One of the best things about Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 is the price because they are around the $450 – $500 range, making the two a safe choice if you don’t want to spend too much as a beginner. Many wonder which model they should get because these cameras are almost identical in price and abilities. The image quality is pretty good for the price and size as both cameras use the one-inch sensor and have the same effective pixel to produce good quality images.
However, it doesn’t mean both cameras produce the same results. It seems the LX10 has a better lens, which translates to slightly better image quality. We like the grip and ease of use of both cameras. They are perfect for casuals and enthusiasts who love taking photos and want a dedicated camera. The overall result is still very good for social media and if you want to print the photos. The video quality is impressive for the price and size; you can record 4K 30p on both cameras.
Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 Design
Panasonic doesn’t seem to pay much attention in separating their cameras and design because Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 have identical shapes. These cameras have a small grip to improve handling and a plastic body that feels pretty solid. The most noticeable difference between the two is on the back panel, where you can see that ZS100 has an EVF. However, the LX10 has a flip-up rear screen which improves the versatility if you want to take a selfie or vlogging. The overall buttons layout is identical and relatively comfortable to use.
Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 Camera Specs
Now let’s see the specs of Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 because it can help get an overall idea of what the cameras can offer. Both cameras use a 1-inch sensor with an effective 20MP pixel. This sensor is bigger than you often get in a smartphone to capture better results. The ZS100 has a 10x zoom, 25 – 250mm f2.8 – 5.9 helps make the body trim. On the other hand, the LX10 has a 3x zoom, 24 – 72mm lens, and f1.4 – 2.8. As for the video, they can record UHD 30p or 1080 60p.
Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 Image Quality
For the most crucial part, the image quality is pretty good. Like most cameras in this price range, the highest ISO that produces the best result is ISO 800, as the photo becomes grainier at the higher ISO levels. The image quality is similar, but the LX10 produces a better result because the color is crisp and more vibrant. The better lens seems to affect the photos, making the ZS100 have a slightly dull impression and not as vibrant as the LX10.
Low light performance is always challenging for a compact camera, and it is not different for Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100. We suggest shooting in RAW in low light conditions so you can still save some details while the camera’s noise infests it.
Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 Performance
Shooting with Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 doesn’t feel slow at all. They are not as snappy as your smartphone’s camera, but we don’t see delays when capturing photos and accessing the menu. The two are pretty good for casual photography. The autofocus works well with a decent continuous-shooting speed. Unfortunately, the use of mixed lighting causes the cameras to slow down. The autofocus is still acceptable during video recording even though they are not always accurate; at least the camera can ignore the moving things between you and the subject.
In comparison, we think the LX10 is noticeably faster or about 50% faster than the ZS100, especially when you first start the camera. However, things are a bit different in continuous shooting speed because the ZS100 can take at least one more shot than LX10.
Panasonic Lumix LX10 Vs ZS100
The Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 are similarly priced, which is confusing as the two also have similar specs and image quality. However, these cameras are not identical because ZS100 offers more for the price. The ZS100 has a long-zoom range of up to 10x and a viewfinder, which are missing from the LX10. The LX10 has a better lens which arguably gives more vibrant photos. The performance is similar, with ZS100 taking longer to start but faster for continuous shots.
Conclusion
There is no wrong choice between Panasonic Lumix LX10 and ZS100 because they are very close in specs and overall performance, including image quality. However, if your main goal is looking for a traveling camera, we suggest getting the Panasonic ZS100 because it has a long zoom range which helps bring you closer to a subject, and a viewfinder to better frame the shot.
